"Sip minty rum cocktails in Hemingway's favourite haunt. Follow in the footsteps of freedom fighter Che Guevara. And rock to the rumba in Tropicana Club, Cuba's best-loved cabaret bar. Welcome to Havana – land of salsa, cigars and old American cars."
When you first arrive in Havana you feel as though you've somehow managed to bypass a camera crew and waltz straight into a film set. Against a backdrop of colonial buildings the colour of ice-cream, old men sit outside cafes sucking on fat cigars, sultry women sashay in time to some far-off salsa beat and shiny-fendered cadillacs cruise the hazy Cuban streets. At any given time you're expecting a director to emerge through the thick curtain of cigar smoke and yell cut. But this isn't a land of make believe. This is the real deal. And it needs to be seen to be believed. Everything about Havana screams old world glamour. After all, it's not so long ago the likes of Fred Astaire and Walt Disney were swinging through the revolving doors of Hotel Nacional, or Ernest Hemingway was propping up the bar in La Boudeguita del Medio. A tale of two cities, this is a place where old meets new and the unlikely pair get along famously. In Havana Vieja, or Old Havana, which was declared a World Heritage Site in 1982, it's all about post-colonial mansions, crooked cobbled streets and Baroque churches. In the modern part, Vedado, it's a case of glass-fronted skyscrapers, sleek shops and bubbling bars where you can sip mojitos and mambo 'til morning. The city is packed full of museums, memorials, galleries, and theatres. And wherever you go, the eyes of Che Guevara - posterboy of the Revolution - follow you, from the bronze monument in Revolution Square to the vivid red t-shirts draped across tourist stalls. Che aside, watch workers handroll Bolivars in the famous old cigar factories. Slurp fruity ice-cream in the world-renowned Coppelia ice-cream parlour. And as the sun bows out for another day, head for the Malecon, Havana's bustling sea-front boulevard, where a delightful jumble of architecture jostles for ocean views. Yes, the pastel-hued buildings could do with a fresh lick of paint but their faded grandeur is all part of the magic. Besides, that'll be the last thing on your mind when the amber glow of the sunset illuminates the bay. Then, lovers link hands, children stop paddling long enough to look up, and another perfect day in Havana comes to a show-stopping finale. Like something out of a movie some might say.
Find the cheapest late deals to Havana leaving in the next six weeks.
Havana hotels and apartments
Our hotels and apartments in Havana include Melia Cohiba, Nh Parque Central, Occidental Miramar and Saratoga Hotel.
More Cuba holiday destinations
Looking for holidays in Cuba? Our Cuba holiday destinations include Guardalavaca, Havana, Playa Pesquero and Varadero.
Beaches
The nearest beaches to Havana are at Playas del Esta, meaning 'Eastern Beaches', located about 20km from the centre. Popular with the locals, the aquamarine sea gently washes the white sands whilst water and beach sports create an atmosphere of fun.
Eating out
Cuban cuisine is a mix of Spanish and African techniques, using local produce like plantains, chick-peas and beans. A regular Cuban favourite is black rice with pork and it's delicious! Cuban beer is excellent, try Crystal or Buccanero. The cocktails are, of course, bountiful and colourful. Visit Ernest Hemingway's favourite Havana haunt, El Floridita for his cocktail of choice, the refreshing mojito. The thirst-quenching daiquiri was created in this bar in 1914, and was doubtlessly enjoyed by its famous patrons who included Marlene Dietrich, Gary Cooper and Spencer Tracy. The local people sometimes open restaurants in their homes, called 'paladares', a visit to one of these promises a truly authentic taste of Cuban cuisine and culture.
Nightlife
The city's nightlife swings with cabarets, nightclubs, historical theatres and cinemas. Music and dance are integral parts of Cuban culture with influential music styles such as the rumba and 'son' rhythm, which spawned the most famous of them all - salsa. For something a little different, purchase a ticket to see the acclaimed Cuban ballet where you can experience the grandeur of Havana's Grand Theatre.
Shopping
Plaza de la Catedral is a beautiful square which fills with handcraft markets at the weekend. For a more modern shopping experience there are newly erected department stores and shopping malls. Don't forget to visit the famous cigar shops, the best of which can be found at the entrance to Havana's several cigar factory's, and no trip to Cuba would be complete without purchasing a bottle of 'Havana Club' rum.
Local information
Habana Vieja or Old Havana - a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site - is the richest sightseeing area in the city. Its narrow streets, colonial mansions, churches, cobblestone plazas and sixteenth-century fortresses make it one of the most interesting urban centres in the Americas. Visit the Plaza de la Catedral where you'll also find the towers of Catedral de San Christobal de la Habana - not to be missed! There is a fine selection of museums in the city, particularly worth a visit are the Museo de la Revolucion and the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes which are both excellent.
Location
145km west of Varadero
Transfer time
Approximately 2 hours from Varadero Airport and 30 minutes from Havana Airport
Recommended
